Xabi Alonso backs ‘world-class’ Cole Palmer to shine for Chelsea

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso believes Cole Palmer can produce his best football this season after completing a full pre-season under the new manager.

The England international has been described as a “world-class” player by Alonso, who is confident Palmer is ready to make a major impact as Chelsea begin their 2026/27 Premier League campaign.

Chelsea will start the season away to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday, with Palmer having worked with Alonso from the first day of pre-season at Cobham.

Palmer has become one of Chelsea’s most important attacking players since joining the club. Alonso believes the midfielder is now in a strong position to perform at his highest level after enjoying a full preparation period with the London club.

“Cole is determined to enjoy his football. He wants to be fit. He wants to feel healthy. He wants to have a good connection with the players around him,” Alonso said at his pre-match press conference.

“And I’ve said that if we have this Cole and we can reach him and he feels that flow in the game and that he connects well with the players, I’m sure that his level is top-class, world-class, I would say, and that he will have a great season,” he added.

Palmer’s development has been interrupted by injuries at various points in his career, but Alonso says the forward has responded to those setbacks by placing greater emphasis on his fitness and injury prevention.

The Chelsea head coach believes Palmer’s difficult experiences have helped him understand how to look after himself and reduce the chances of suffering a recurrence.

“Yes. I think that sometimes you need to go through a difficult moment with an injury or whatever to learn from that,” Alonso said when asked whether Palmer’s injury problems were now behind him.

“I think that Cole has gone through a difficult period with the injury, and now he’s working really hard to have the prevention not to have to feel those symptoms. Since the first day, he’s been working really hard to avoid that,” he added.

Alonso’s assessment comes with Chelsea preparing for a Premier League opener against Fulham, who will host their west London rivals at Craven Cottage on Monday.

The manager’s comments underline his belief that Palmer’s fitness, confidence and understanding with those around him will be central to his prospects this season.

Palmer’s opportunity to complete pre-season under Alonso has given the pair time to work together from the opening day of preparations at Cobham. The Chelsea boss is now expecting the player to benefit from that continuity when the campaign begins.

For Alonso, the priority is to help Palmer rediscover the level that has made him such a key attacking player for Chelsea. If the England international can remain fit, build strong connections with his team-mates and find his rhythm in matches, the manager expects him to enjoy what could be a highly productive season.